Druk Paju Tours & Travels

Bhutan History

Bhutan may have
been inhabited as early as 2000BC, but not much was known until the
introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in the 19th century, when
uncertainty conflicts in Tibet forced many monks to flee in Bhutan. In the 12th
century, the Drukpa Kagyupa School was established and remains the dominant
form of Buddhism in Bhutan today. The country’s political history is intimately
tied to its religious history and the relations among the various monastic
schools and monasteries.

Bhutan and Nepal
are the only two countries which have been independent throughout the history,
never conquered, occupied, or governed by an outside power. Although there has
been speculation that it was under the Kamarupa Kingdom or the Tibetan Empire
in the 07th to 09th centuries, firm evidence is lacking.
From the time history is clear, Bhutan has continuously and successfully
defended its sovereignty.

The
consolidation of Bhutan occurred in 1616 when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a Lama
from Tibet defeated three Tibetan invasions, subjugated rival religious
schools, codified the Tsa Yig, an intricate and comprehensive system of law and
established himself as the ruler over a system of civil administrators. After
his death, infighting and civil wars eroded the power of the Zhabdrung for the
next 200 years. When in 1885, Ugyen Wangchuk was able to consolidate and
cultivate closer ties with the British in India.

In 1907, Ugyen
Wangchuck was elected as the hereditary ruler of Bhutan, crowned on December
17, 1907 and installed as the head of the state Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King). In
1910, King and the British signed the Treaty of Punakha which provided that
British India would not interfere in the internal affairs of Bhutan if the
country accepted external advises in its external relations. When Ugyen
Wangchuck died in 1926, his son Jigme Wangchuck became the next ruler. When India
gained independence in 1947, the new Indian government recognised Bhutan as an
independent country. In 1949, India and Bhutan signed a treaty of peace and
friendship, which provided that India would not interfere in Bhutan’s internal
affairs but would be guided by India in its foreign policy. Succeeded in 1952
by his son Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Bhutan began to gradually emerge from its
isolation and began a programme of planned development. Bhutan became a member
of the United Nations in 1971, and the National Assembly was established and a
new code of law, as well as the Royal Bhutan Army and the high court.

In 1972, King
Jigme Singye Wangchuck ascended the throne at the age of 20. He emphasized
modern education, decentralization of governance, the development of
hydroelectricity, tourism and drastic improvements in rural developments. He
was perhaps best known internationally for his overarching development philosophy
of “Gross National Happiness” it recognises that there are many dimensions to
development and that economic goals alone are not sufficient. Satisfied with
Bhutan’s transitioning democratization process, he abdicated in December 2006
rather than wait until the promulgation of the new constitution in 2008. His
son, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, became King upon his abdication.